Reo Hatate endured a torrid start to the month but what a return to form he enjoyed last night. In earlier seasons, Reo’s energy levels dipped late in games, but against Young Boys he covered every blade of grass. After Daizen Maeda’s dismissal, it was Reo who marshalled the left wing, throwing himself at the ball to squeeze the life out of the Swiss attack.
Space and time on the ball is a premium at this level, but players with elite ability can manufacture both. Reo’s first touch, combined with intelligent use of his body, allowed him to repeatedly settle Celtic into possession.
He did this deliciously with five minutes remaining, before carving open the Young Boys defence with a pass into the path of Adam Idah for the goal. The goal itself was a lucky break, but you often make your luck. Reo made ours last night, without his skill, the Young Boys defence would have not have been stressed.
You will wait 20 years before seeing another hattrick of disallowed goals (I have a vague memory of Tommy Johnson being incorrectly penalised like this against Kilmarnock). Kyogo’s three goals were all correctly disallowed, but seemed an indication that the opener would soon come.
Greg Taylor’s cardio capacity almost came to the rescue, when he hit the byline inside the box and crossed, while being dragged to the ground by the neck. Arne Engels’ attempt from the penalty spot was poor. If you stagger your run as Arne did, you are in trouble if the keeper is not already on his way down. The resultant shot had no momentum from the run-up, allowing the keeper time to read it.
Keller in the Young Boys goal had an outstanding game, although there was a ‘saveable’ element to each of his seven shots stopped. His final act of heroism, getting a foot out to stop Adam Idah, became a short pass to the onrushing defender Benito, who could do nothing but bundle the ball into his own net. The cheers at Celtic Park were loud, matched only by the sound of television channels being changed in unison across large parts of the country.
Unlike the first, the second half lacked chances (we will come onto this in a moment). Maeda came close early in the period, while Kasper Schmeichel made a tremendous double save to stop Young Boys taking the lead.
The late goal should have seen Celtic close the game out comfortably. Instead, Maeda’s temperament led him to retaliate. The red card which followed will cost us one of our truly Champions League-class players in Birmingham next week.
Young Boys halted Celtic’s relentless first half procession at the start of the second period when they figured out they needed to deny Callum McGregor space. Callum was imperious in the first half. The key to Celtic’s play is finding angles to make simple forward passed into. Callum was able to make and (more importantly) receive these passes, which repeatedly triggered an attack.
Modern football increasingly resembles a chess board. Everyone who can receive a pass is covered, to progress the ball, you need motion and an understanding of how to create an angle where the recipient can move into to receive a pass.
Celtic did this terribly at Ibrox this month and were vastly better last night. Remember also how often Taylor and Johnston passed the ball along the line into empty space, knowing it would be met by a Celtic jersey. Our success as a football team is all about how we move the ball forward. I don’t think we are the finished article, but you can see what the coaches have been working on since 3 January.
Young Boys remain rooted to the bottom of the table and are ninth in the Swiss league but still managed to give us a proper game last night. This demonstrates the gap between most of our domestic opponents and even the Swiss league. It is difficult to live week-to-week in one environment and then step up to a vastly higher level.
We will have at least 10 Champions League games this season and five against Newco; each match a genuine test. Other games are of little developmental value.
An interesting aside: five clubs are currently on 12 points, each of them a past winner: Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus, Celtic.
Congratulations to Celtic on progressing to the next stage.
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Sounds like Der Huns have had a couple of players taken off due to injury and Cerny has now joined them.
No one likes to see a professional get injured…
James McFadden says letting Kyogo leave is wrong and if Rennes want to buy him why not wait till the summer to sell him : surely James must know the French club is in a relegation fight – they want Kyogo to help – their need is now and that’s why the fee is good. HH
A Butland OG too. What a shame.
Darwin,
A nonsense comment from him – if a player is wanting to go.
At his age €10 is a great price and if he was to pick up an injury…
Or doesn’t play to his full potential?
I’m pretty confident we have someone lined up . 👍🏻
They don’t call Maguire ’50p head’ for nothing
‘English ‘ commentator a Zombie, totally behind Sevco
The amount of space the huns get to control the ball and look up explains why this Man utd team are where they are, they dont work hard enough, team of individuals, this new guy has problems to solve.
Oh dear. Thon Buttplug chappie has made a right arse of that.
You would have to have a heart of stone not to pish yourself laughing.
Anyone got a good link?
Manure are hopeless. The few chances they have made they have butchered. Sevco look as likely as they and wouldn’t be surprised if they sneaked one
MaGuire, aka thrupenny bit heid….really is awful!
Think Man U have been studying us , giving the ball away too easy.
Jefte=thug
Forgot they were playing tonight… put it on.
10 minutes and not seen any decent play from either team…
Man U are nothing special but I am confident they will win this game.
On dear united
Oh dear Harry
I despise Sevco and all they stand for but it is silly to keep saying they are rubbish. They can only be properly judged in their own League and there, they are better than all the others bar one. Also, they are reasonable in Europe.
Shocking defending from McGuire dumpling.
Amorim will be lucky to get to the summer
Bsr
Can’t see him making it to summer either
2-1. Hee hee
“HOT SMOKED on 23RD JANUARY 2025 9:44 PM
Man U are nothing special but I am confident they will win this game.”
I am very happily less confident now :-)))
I`m a jinx !!
Fernandez 2.1
Sleekit not happy
And the cry was ‘no defenders!’
Delicious.
Any ugly scenes yet………………..????
Spot on Hot Smoked . They have the mentality and aggression .
Abbshaaaalootly brulllyint!
In terms of deflation , that is a great way to lose. I hope it affects THEM in their weekend game v the real United.
that should keep clement in the job
🤣
right lets see some rioting!
It’s the hope that kills them.
Stuck in Manchester, God have mercy on Manchester
Och well at least they didnae lose by an o g 😂😂😉
Well, that’s another lovely end to an evening. I should sleep soundly tonight to make up for last night’s high.
schadenfreude, it’s the spelling that kills you :)